Steam generating apparatus



June 23, 1931.

C. L. THORNE STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet" 1 255 1 3 o f .j 255 I 3 June 23, 193 1. c. L. THORNE STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 3, 1926 4 00 6 75 Z6 0 Z w i .rww 1 m0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a v 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 000 0 0 0 0 01 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 7 4 .5 5 I 1 1 5 02 a? 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 6 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 6 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 v [72067a'0' L'Zayzal ZZor/aa I June 23, 1931. c. L. THORNE STEAM GENEI RATING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 3, 1926 mummy June 23, 1931. c, THORNE 1,811,193

STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jim 23, 1931.

C. L. THORNE STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIYIIIIIIIIM June 23, 1931. c. THORNE STEAM GENERATING APPARATL1S 8 "Sheets-Sheet 6 villlllrllli Filed Sept. 3, 1926 ilnlflllltllllllltrllll June 23, 1931. c. THORNE STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS n mm um [Ill "1' IHHHH 1111111 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 June 23, 1931. c. L. THORNE STE GENERATING APPARATUS' Filed Sept. 3. 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 a e a 6 e n Patented June 23, 1931 "r TE -r se saw a CH C sra l GENERATING APPARATUS Application filed September My i ve on r a s t t am e a n apparatus and particularly to steam generatns appa a us o stea pr p l d v h c The invention has among its othero iects j. the production of apparatus of the kinddecribed which s simp t, on e i n ur le, eificien an at fa tory f r-us Wh eri unq ppli le- A particular object of the invention is to provide apparatus .of the kind described which will generate steam under relatively h pre sur n a min m f t m Another particular object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the kind described wherein (there is an efiicient eX- changeof heat between the hot gases of C0111- bustion .andthe steamv or :Water inthe boiler.

; Still another particular object of the invention ,is to provide an improved steam boiler of the lrind described. which may be quickly and easily dismantled when it is to be repaired or inspected.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown-and describedwill be obvious: to those skilled in the. artfrom the disclosureherein given.

,To this end myinvention consistscin the ov con t t-i arra gemen va c ination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims. 7

In the drawings, whereinlike reference characters indicate like parts:

;-Fig.;1 is a plan View of the steam generating. apparatus embodying the invention, ;the apparatus being shown in connection .with the chassis, Of. ,an automobile;

or corresponding shown in Fig.1;

Fig.

Fig. 4 isa, section takenon line 4,4 of

Fig. 3;

F ig., 6 isasection taken on line 6 6 of.

Fig. 7. isanenlarged section taken o n line .7. :7'.of.Fig. 6;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe apparatus is a. section taken. on line ;3,3. of-

,Fig.;5,,is anenlargedsection taken online 3, 1926. Serial .NO. 133,450.

ig-f 8 i a section taken on line 8&8 of Fig. 7

. Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 99 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged section taken on line.

1212 of.Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 18 is a section takenon line 1:3-13,o f Fig.- 16; p

Fig. 14 isan enlarged section taken on line 1414of Fig. 1; v v i Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectiontaken on line 15l5 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig- 16 is an enlargedsection taken on line 16-.16,of 3;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged line 1717 of Fig. 3; V

Fig. 18 is a fragmentarylongitudinal section taken through .the automobile and it illustratesa preferred arrangement of the mechanism for controlling the improved boiler;

Fig. 19is a fragmentary elevation of the das bo rd h a mob section taken on Fig. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view of a valveforming paratus I F ig.,21 is a fragmentary vertical section P r of th mp e-d epthrough aboiler embodying another form of upon the chassis of an automobile or the like,

but it is to-be understood thatmy invention is limitedto this use only to theextent indicated in the appended claims.

Referring for the present to- Figs- 1 to v3, inclusive, my improve-d boiler is designated generally by the reference character 20 and ismounted upon the chassis .ofan automobile, the chassiscomprising in this instance longitudinal .members 21 and a transverse member 22. As best shown in Fig. the boil- 7 er 20 preferably: comprises a substantiallyluv cylindrical outer shell 24 which is made from any suitable material, such as sheet metal. Disposed within the shell 24 and spaced therefrom is a substantially cylindrical reinforcing member 26 which in this instance is a screen and has its lower and upper ends secured to rings 27 and 27a, respectively. The bottom ring 27 is preferably secured to a bottom plate 28 which is, in turn, secured to the shell 24, the upper ring 27a being also secured to the shell 24. The screen 26 is preferably embedded in a cylindrical heat insulating layer 30 which preferably extends from the inner surface of the shell 24 to cover the screen 26. The layer 30 may be formed of any suitable material or any suitable 'composition of matter which is not inflammable and prevents any appreciable exchange of heat between the interior of the boiler and the shell 24.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 11, a plurality of bent bars 34 are preferably embedded in the layer 30, the bent bars having outwardly extending lugs which project through the apertures 36 provided in the outer shell 24. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, two of the lugs 35 are rigidly secured to the transverse member 22 by bolts 37 or the equivalent. The other two lugs 35 are preferably secured to a bent bar 38 arranged transversely of the chassis and secured to the longitudinal members 21. The means for securing the lugs 35 to the bent bars 38 preferably comprises bolts 40 having hook: shaped ends 41 adapted to engage the lower edge of the bent bar 38. Nuts 43 screwthreaded upon the bolts 40 may be manipulated to rigidly secure the lugs 35 to the bent bar 38.

The bottom plate 27 is preferably provided with a relatively large central aperture 45 closed by a conical member 46 which is also centrally apertured as at 48. Seated upon the conical member 46 is an annular member 50 through which air is admitted to a burner hereinafter described, the annular member 50 having a central passage 51 therethrough, whereby the air may flow up into a tube 53 which is protected on its outer side by a cylindrical layer 54 of heat insulating material. Centrally positioned in the tube 53 is a tubular member 55 which preferably projects down through the passage 51 and has its lower end closed by a cap 57. As shown, the cap 57 is preferably provided with a central depression 58 which communicates with a. pipe 59. Disposed in the central depression 58 is av float 60, the arrangement being such that when liquid fuel collects in the depression 58 the float assumes a position wherein it permits the liquid fuel to be discharged fro-1n the apparatus through the pipe 59. Obviously, the fuel discharged through the pipe 59 may be returned to a supply tank or 5 it may be discharged upon the road.

The apparatus preferably comprises a burner 61 which, in turn, comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged burner rings identified by the reference characters 62., 63, 64, 65 and 66. As shown, the burner 61 is preferably of substantially frustroconical form so that the burner rings 62 to 66, inclusive, lie in difierent horizontal planes. The burner 61 may be made of any suitable material, but I preferably form it from a single sheet of metal which is secured to the bottom wall 28, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. As hereinafter more fully explained, the burner ring 62 may be operated independently of the remaining burner rings a. plate or disc 68 being positioned within the burner ring62 to separate it from the remaining burner rings. An annular chamber 70 is formed between the burner ring 62 and the plate or disc 68, and an annular chamber 71 is formed between the conical member 46 and the burner rings 63, 64, 65 and 66. It will be noted that radially extending conduits 72 connect the interior of the tubular member 55 with the chamber 70 and that radially extending conduits 74 connect the interior of the tubular member 55 with the annular chamber 71, the disc or plate 68 being centrally apertured as at 75 to permit a mixture of air and fuel to flow downward in the tube through the conduits 74 and thence into the annular chamber 71.

Means is provided for closing the aperture 7 5 to prevent air and fuel from passing into the annular chamber 71 from the tubular member 55, this means preferably comprising a valve 76, or the equivalent, arranged to seat upon the under side of the plate or disc 68. The valve 76 is preferably secured to the lower end of a rod 78 which extends upward through the tubular member 55 to a point above the boiler. The purpose of this construction will be more fully hereinafter explained.

Snuglyand removably fitting the upper end of the tube 53 is the lower end of a tube 80 which is preferably provided with an exterior coating 81 of heat insulating material. The tube 80 preferably extends from the tube 53 to a cover 83 provided for the tubular shell 24, this cover 83 being preferably frustro-conical in form and preferably comprising inner and outer metallic mem bers 84 and 85, respectively, between which a layer 86 of heat insulating material is disposed; The cover 83 is preferably provided with a central aperture 88 through which the tube 80 extends, the aperture'88 being larger than the external diameter of the coating 81 so that the tube 80, together with the coating 81 and other parts carried by the tube, may be quickly and easily withdrawn from the boiler through the aperture 88, as will hereinafter more fully appear. space between the exterior surface of the The.

coating 81 and the bounding edge of the aperture 88 :is preferably closed by. removable complementary cover members 90, land the upper end of the tube is preferably closed by an end wall 92 The aforementioned :rod 18 connected to the valve 76 preferably extends through a tube 93'depe'nding from the end wall 92, the

upper-endof the rod TS being rig-idlysecurted to a member 95 which is ,pivoted'to .a lever 96 rigidly secured to a shaft 97; The shaft 97 is journale'd in a. bracket 98 mounted on the end wall92 and has -.a lever=99 (Fig. 12) I whichmeshes with a gear segment formed upon the arm 106 ofa bell crank lever 107 which also comprises an arm 108 engageable with a valve stem 110. The valve stem 110 extends downward through a'tube 112 which extends downward from'the end wall 92 and terminates in, a detachablenozzle 114 positioned above the-tubular member 55. It will be-notedthat the nozzle 114 is substantially coaxially disposed withrespect tothe tubular member 55. The lower end of the valve stem 1:10 terminates in a valve 115 movable through an aperture 116 formed inthenozzle 114 (see Fig. 13). In the preferred embodiment of the invention the valve stem 110 andvalve 115 areformedfrom a roundrod which has its lowerend filed'or cut away as at 115a (see Fig.20). Of course,-movement of the valve into the aperture 116 progressively diminishes Ithe efiective cross-sectional area of the aperture. A compression spring 118 disposed around the upper end-of the'valve stem 110 is interposedbetween the end wall 92 and a collar120 rigidly secured to the valve stem. The :spring 118 yieldingly urges the valve stem 110 in an upward direction to .hold the valve-115inits fully open'position. .Engag ingthe-arm 106 of the bell crank lever 107 is a pin or plunger 122 (JFig1f15) which is secured to a diaphragm 123 mounted within a housing 125, the dia'phragm123 dividing the housing 125into chambers 126 and 127. The

plunger 1 22 is slidablyj'ournaled in a closure 7 member'128 screw-threaded into {the housing 125, and acompression spring 130is preferably positioned between the closure member 128 and the diaphragm 123 to yieldingly urge thediaphragm 123 into a position wherein it withdraws the pin-122from engagement with thear'm-106. The chamber 127- communicates through 'a pipe 132-with-a steam dome i' hereinafter described. .the construction being rection (Fig; 15)-;agai-nst=the :actions of the springs 11-8 and 130. This movement .of the bell crank lever 107 will cause the valve stem llO' to-be longitudinally displaced to partially close theorificewi-n the-nozzle. Qhviously,

when-the pressure within the steam dome falls below the predetermined value, [thesprings 118 and .130 "will cause the diaphragm to-be deflected'to the right (Fig. 15.) and .the spring 118 will function toliftthe valve .115. It will be noted that a :union 132a, or :theequi-valerit,

isyprovided in the pipe .132 adj acentthe housing 125.

longitudinal axis of the nozzlel14 is asleeve 134 whichhas an annularportionr135 ofrela tively large-diameter adapted to seat upon, and partially close the upper .end of the still" bular member 55. Extendingupwardly from the. annular portion 135 is anannular portion 136 having-a passage 137 extendingthere through, Obviously, when itheannula-r per-1 tion 135 is-seated uponthe upper end of the tubularmemben55, a restricted-amount oflair may enter the tubular member --throu,gh the passage 137 (see Fig. 17 The sleeve 1341s rigidly securedto the lower end :of two rods- 139 which COIlIlGiCUtheg-SlQG-VQ.1 34; to :a sleeve- 139a; slidably journaled -=upon theitubevll2. The sleeve-139mm rigidlycsecuredeto a bar'g140 slidably journaled 1111 a tubular member: 1411 projecting downward from theend -wall:'-92.' Arack 145 (Fig-12) formed-inthe uppenend ofthe bar -"meshes with a pinion ;147rotat-' ably journaled upon a pin.1-48 mounted inathe bracket 98'. The pinion 147 meshes with-a gear 149 :rigidlyisecured --to fthe shaft 102]. The arrangement is -such that a the shaft 102} may be rotatedtozlower or raisethe sleeve-134 into oraout of engagement, respectively, with the upper end.o'f-thetubulan member 55. .It-is readily understood that if 'the'shaft:102,=is;rotated, in a clockwise direction (?Fig. 12) to lower-the sleeve 184, the pin100 wills-engage the lever 99 and angularly:displace?the-shaft 97 ina-clockwise direction tO iCElllSGitllBfilQVQl 96vtof raise :the valve 76 into engagement with the undersurface of thedis'c or plate-68. in the preferred 1- embodiment ofrthe invention, V the shaftr102is 'pr'eferably'detachably secured byiaicoupling 10260 to ashaft 10% which ex-. tends from the boilerfto-the dash: of the auto- I mobile and is preferablyprovided withahanj. dle-1020, or t-he equivalent, whereby-iitmay be rotated by the driver- (See Fig. 18). v Extending laterally-of :the tube .112ganil communicating. therewith are =tubes F151; and 152 which extend through the wall ofithe tube 80. The outer-endof the tube 15,2. is preferably :closed-by.-a-screw or bolt;-154', or the equivalent, the-tube 152func-t-ioning- -substantially as a-stay or: strutto hold .thelower end ofthe tube 112 in its ,proper position. Theouter end'of the tube 15.15preferably-co1i1- municates with a tube l55 throughgapertures Concentrically disposed with respect the I 156 provided therein (see Figs. 3, 12 and 13). As shown, the upper end of the tube 155 is preferably screw-threaded as at 158 to receive an internally screw-threaded cap 159 for closing the upper end of the tube and which may be manipulated to clamp the outer end of the tube 151 between the nut and a shoulder 160 formed upon the tube 155, the outer end of the tube 151 being preferably formed with a transverse bore 162 which accommodates the tube 155. If desired, packing 164 may be provided between the tube 151 and the'nut 159 and between the tube 151 and the shoulder Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the lower end of the tube 155 is flattened and lies in relatively close proximity to the layer 54 applied to the outer surface of the tube 53, and that the lower end of the tube 155 communicates with the lowermost turn of a vaporizing coil or helically wound tube 166. The uppermost turn of the helically wound tube 166 communicates with a vertically disposed tube 167 which extends through one of the cover members 90 and is provided with a T-fitting 169 at its upper end (see Figs. 3 and 14). The tube 167 communicates with a pipe 170 through the T-fitting 169 and the pipe 17 O is preferably connected to a pipe 170a by a' pipe union 171, the pipe 17 0a leading to any suitable receptacle (not shown) holding a supply of liquid fuel. Closing one end of the T-fitting 169 is a screwthrea-ded plug 172 having a bore 173 adaptedto receive the upper end of a pin 175 which extends downwardly into the tube 167. As best shown in Fig. 14, the pin 175 is provided with a plurality of helical teeth 177 which fit snugly within the tube 167. Obviously, when the plug 172 is removed from the fitting 169, the pin 17 5 may be rotated to dislodge any carbon or other matter which may adhere to the surface of the tube 167 and the dislodged matter may be removed from the tube by drawing the pin 17 5 therefrom. It may be mentioned at this point in the description that when the automobile is operating and the burner'61 is functioning, fuel flows from the pipe 170 through the tube 167 into the helically wound tube 166 wherein it is vaporized by the heat from the burner. The'gas so generated passes upward in the tube 155 and thence through the tube 151 into the tube 112 to be discharged through the nozzle 114. This gas is under pressure and is projected into the tube 55 from the nozzle in such manner that air is driven downwardly into the tubular member 55 to mix with the gas. The mixture of air and gas-passes through the conduits 72 and 74 to the several burner rings if the valve 76 is not engaging the plate 68. In the event that the. valve 76 is seated against the under surface ofthe disc or plate 68 to close the aperture 75 therethrough, the mixture of fuel and gas will flow solely to the burner ring 62.

When the latter condition obtains, a relatively small amount of fuel issues from the nozzle 114 as-the valve 115 is thenin a partially closed position. A relatively small amount of air is advanced into the tubular member 55 as the annular portion 135 of the sleeve 134 is then seated upon the upper end of the tubular member 55. As pointed out above, the valve 76 may be brought into engagement with the plate 68and the'sleeve 134 may be seated upon the tubular member 55 at the same time by rotating the shaft 102 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 12) ,such displacement of the valve 7 6-and the sleeve 134 being accompanied by downward movement of the valve 115 in the aperture 116. However, during the normal operation ofthe automobile, the positions of the valve 76 and the valve 115are automatically controlled by the diaphragm 123 which is,'in turn, controlled by the pressure obtaining within the steam dome.

Means isprovided for preheating the helically wound tube 166 when the boiler is to set in operation. For this purpose I have preferably provided a separate supply of fuel contained in a receptacle (not shown),

or the like, carried by the automobile. This fuel is preferably in the form of a gas and is delivered to the boilerthrough a tube or pipe 180 (Fig. 7) which communicates with a burner 181 positioned within a tube 182, thetube 182 projecting through the burner ring 62 The pipe 180 is connected through a valve 180a, mounted on the instrument board 1806' of the vehicle, with a pipe 1800 leading to the receptacle (not shown) holding the separate supply of fuel. The pipe 180 is preferably secured to the tube 182 by a bracket member 185 having passages 186 formed therein through which air may enter the tube. The upper end of the tube 182 is preferably closed by an apertured disc 188 formed of refractory material, or any other suitable substance. Obviously, gas issuing from the burner 181 mixes with the air en tering the passages 186 and passes through the apertures provided in the disc 188. The mixture is preferably ignited by means comprising electrodes 190 and 191, the electrode 190 being secured to and insulated from the tube 80. The electrode 191 is also secured to the tube 80 but is not insulated therefrom, the tube 80 being grounded with respect to one terminal of a battery 194, or the equivalent, which terminal is also grounded. The battery 194 and other electrical apparatus are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 7. The battery 194 is connected through a switch 196 to a binding post 197 mounted upon a metallic bar 199 secured to the electrode 190. When the switch 196'is closed, electrical current will flow from the battery 194 through the switch 196, the binding post 197, the bar 199 and through the electrode 190 to are across the gap of the electrodes 190 and 191,

after which it passesthrough the electrode 191 to ground. The switch 196 is preferably positioned upon the instrument board 180?) of the automobile and is closed by the driver when the valve 180a is opened to permit gas to flow through the pipe 180 to the burner 181. Thus, the valve 180a, comprises a rotatable valve stem 180d which carries one -memberofthe switch 196., and rotation of the valve stem to. open the valve closes the switch. When the valve is closedthe switch is opened. After the helically wound tube 166 has been sufficiently heated to vaporize the liquid fuel supplied to it through the tube 167, the valve 180a is closed and the 'helically wound tube 166v is thereafter heated by the fiame issuing from the burner 62.

tube 80. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, each hollow member 200 is preferably formed from a single piece of sheet metal. Thus, I preferably stamp ;a

blank of the necessary shape'from a larger piece of sheet metal and'fold'the blank upon itself to provide a chamber betweenthe folds, the edges of the blank being welded to each other along the lines designated by thereferenee-cha'racters 201 in the several views. As shown, each hollowmember 200 preferably comprises converging side walls203"in which a plurality of outwardly projecting domes 205 or theequivalent are stamped or pressed.

Referring to Fig. 3, itwill be noted that the domes 205 are staggered so that'the hot gases of combustion passing upwardly "between adjacent hollow members 200 must "travel through a circuitouspath so thatthere will bean eflicient exchange of' heatbet'ween the hot gases and the contents of the'hollow "members. 'lft will be noted that thelower ends of the hollow members 200 are c t away or tapered as at 208 3) to correspond;

substantially to the contour of the burner 61 5 so that the'hollow members will not'interfere with combustion of the gases or mixtureissuing from the uppermost burner rings. This construction also facilitates the taskof blowingjout sediment which has collected in the hollow members 200. Disposed'beneath the hollow members 200 is an annular header 210, which communicates with thehollowmembersthrOugh pipes or tubes 211, a tube 211 being provide dlforeach hollow member. In the preferred embodiments .of the invention, the tubes 211* are'welded to "the hollow mmbers and-to the headerv 210. Asibest shownin Fig. 11, the annular header 210 is preferably supported upon lugsv 213 projectinginwardly from the bent bars 3.4a. Disposed above the hollow. members 200 is an annular headeror' steam dome 215, (Fig. 3,) which is connected to the hollow members. by bent pipes or tubes 216, a tube 216 being provided for. each hollow member. The tubes 216 are preferably welded to the hollow members and the'header 215. A pipe 218, Which communicates with the steam dome, or header 215, is adapted to deliver steam generated inthe boiler to the engine ofthe automobile. The header 210 is preferably connected directly to the header 215 through a plurality of vertically disposed tubes 219, (Figs. 4, 6 and 9,.) which permitthe header 215 to drain directly into the lower header 210..

Feed wateris preferably introduced to the boiler through a pipe 220 which projects through the cover member'83 and preferably communicateswithza receptacle, (not shown) carried by the automobile and adapted to hold a supply of water. The pipe 220 ten-mi 'na'tes within the "boiler in a plurality of spirally wound tubes 222 arrangedabove the hollow members 200. The feed water is'preferably delivered to'the'uppermost spiral'tube 2 22 and then passes through anintermediate spiral tube'222' to the lowermost spiral'tube 222, after which the water :is delivered through a pipe22'4 to the header 210. It will be noted that the pipe 224 comprises :a trap portion 225 so that the feed water will not drain out of the spiral tubes 22. This is advantageous in that if'the supply of feed -Water is insufficient, a portion thereof will be trapped "in the spiral tubes or pipes and "preventthem from burning. Of course, the

feed water is preheated in'the spiral tubes 222 by' the hot gases of combustion after they have passed up between the hollow members "200,- the hot gases being discharged from the boiler through a flue' 226 "projecting from the cover member 83.

' Referring now to Fi'gs.;2, 6 and 11, it will I i be noted that a plurality of blow-out tubes are welded directly to the header 2-10'and project downwardly therefrom throughthe lugs ,213 formed integral with the bent" bars 3 1. Nuts232 are preferably screw threaded upon the blow-out tubes 230, the nuts 232 being adapted to engage the under slurface of the bottom plate 28. An elbow fitting 233 .screw threaded upon the lower 'enclof'each tube 230 ,joinsthe tube to a horizontally disposed pipe section 23.4 provided with a valve 235 at itsouter rend. Obviously, when pres sure obtains within-the boiler, the valves 23 5 may be opened to permitsediment to be blown therefrom. It will be'not'ed that the-tapered lower ends of the-hollowzmembers 200permit the-ea ifisni gw deposited-at subhan angle in the hollow members that it is easily dis lodged.

From the foregoing description, it is readily apparent that the pipe unions 171 and 132a and the shaft coupling 102a'may be loosened to permit the tube 80, the pipe 167,

the helically wound tube 166, the sleeve 134,

the housing 125 and the parts controlled by the diaphragm within the housing to be removed as a unit from the boiler when the boiler is to be cleaned, repaired or inspected. This is advantageous as it obviates the neces sity of entirely dismantling the boiler when it is desired to inspect, repair or clean the interior thereof.

Theoperation of the above described apparatus is substantially as follows Assuming that the automobile is not in operation and has not been used for some time, it is obvious that the helically wound tube 166 must be'heated before the boiler can be made to operate efficiently. Such heating of the helically wound tube 166 is preferably :accomplished by means of the auxiliary supply of fuel which issupplied in the form of a gas to the burner 181, the gas being automatically ignited by the electrical ignition means hereinbefore described.

After the helically wound tube 166 has been suficiently heated, the supply of gas to the burner 181 may be shut off and the liquid fuel supplied to the helically wound tube 166 through the tube 167 is vaporized and passesto the burner 61 by way of the nozzle 114; At first it is preferable to manually bring the valve-7 6 into engagement with the plate or disc 68 so that the vaporized fuel will be supplied solely to the burner ring 62. Then, after the flame issuing from the burner ring 62 has sufficiently heated the entire helically wound tube 166 to insure a sufficient supply of gas to the remaining burner rings of the burner 61, the valve 76v may be manually returned to its lowermost position. Then when a sufficient amount of steam has been generated within the boiler to bring the pressure inlthe steam dome 215 to a predetermined value, the diaphragm 123 will function to return the valve 76 into engagement with the plate 68 to close the aperture75. If the automobile isthen f set in operation, the diaphragm 123will continue to function in such manner that the pressure within the steam dome 215 will be held at a predetermined value, it being obvious that when the pressure falls add1t1onal burner rings will be set in operatlon and when the pressure rises above the predeterburner ring 242 provide a chamber 247 into which the upper end of a pipe tube 248 opens. It will be noted that the upper surface of the burner ring-242 is provided with slots 249 'through'which the fuel may flow to be ig- 'nited and that these slots 249 are also provided between the partitions 245. The-lower end of the tube 248 is provided witha closure member 251 havinga central passage 252 which'communicates Withthe interior of the tube 248 and with a pipe 254 which is preferably connected to a separate supply (not shown) of gaseous fuel. The closure member 251 is preferably provided with .longitudinal bores 256: through which the tube 248 -communicates with the atmosphere. Ob-

viously, when gas is supplied to the tube 248 through'the passage 252 it passes upwardbe tween the partitions 245 and then out through the slots 249 provided between the'partitions. .This fuel is ignited by means comprising electrodes 190a and 191a, which are substantially identical with'the aforementioned elec ,trodes 190 and 191, respectively. The electrodes 190a and 191a are preferably connected into an'electrical circuit in the same manner as the electrodes 190 and 191 so that when fuel is supplied to the tube 248 through a the passage 252, the electrodes190a and 191a automatically function to ignitethe fuel as --it passes through the slots 249.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting'myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned. What I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.'In a boiler, the combination. of a plurality of wedge-shaped radially disposed hollow members, and a plurality. of hollow bosses formed on opposite wall portions of said members, the outer-faces ofthe bosses on one of said members engaging the faces of the bosses on adjacent members for spacing said members annularly within theboiler,

2. In a boiler, the combination of aplurality of wedge-shaped radially disposed hollow members, and a plurality of hollow bosses formed on opposite wall portions of said members in staggered relationship with re- .spect vto each other, the outer faces of the,

bosses on one of said members cooperating with the faces of correspondingly positioned bosses on adjacent members in a manner to space the members annularly within the boiler.

3. In a boiler, the combination of a plurality of wedge-shaped radially and Vertically disposed hollow members having their inner and lower edge portions cut away to form an upwardly extending frusto-conical space adjacent the lower portion of the boiler, and a plurality of hollow bosses formed on opposite wall portions of the members, the outer faces of the bosses on one of said members cooperating with the faces of correspondingly positioned bosses on adjacent members in a manner to space the members annularly' within the boiler.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 2o signed my name.

CLAYTON L. THORNE. 

